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Newfoundland is full of incredible hiking trails, but the Discovery Trail is something special. This network of paths goes along the Bonavista Peninsula stretching from the charming town of Trinity all the way to Bonavista.
Whales, icebergs, sea stacks, and stunning ocean views are just a few of the attractions you can see along the discovery trail.
I had the pleasure of exploring all the trails in partnership with Legendary Coasts and Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism this fall, and they did not disappoint
Here are seven stunning hikes on the Discovery Trail Newfoundland to inspire your next adventure.
Discovery Trail Newfoundland Hikes
Skerwink Trail
5.3 KM round-trip | moderate to difficult | 1.5-2 hours
The Skerwink Trail is one of Newfoundland’s most famous trails – it was actually named by Travel and Leisure as one of the best walks in North America. And yes, it does live up to all the hype.
This 5.3km coastal trail starts from Port Rexton and takes you along the coast through some stunning geological formations. It’s a great place to see icebergs in the spring, whales in the summer, and a variety of sea birds.
The first section of this trail follows the old rail bed into a walking trail, with the first lookout at about 1.2 km. From there, you’ll get the first glimpse of sea stacks, which are formed over time by constant wind and wave erosion along the coast.
After about 2km, the trail opens up an amazing ocean view of the Skerwink rocks, where you can often see sea birds including black-legged kittiwakes, gannets, and gulls.
This is also a great place to keep a lookout for whales, as Capelin roll into the beach below. I saw humpbacks here while I was hiking!
At about 3.5km, there is a side path that will take you to a lookout of a panoramic view of the region and surrounding community.
The trail then goes back into the forest, opening up to Sam White’s cove. This is a nice place to hang out and walk along the pebble beach, and if you’re feeling brave, put your feet in the ocean.
Leaving the cove, the trail then turns into an old cart path and follows a gravel road back to the start.
This hike does have a fair bit of up and down, but there are plenty of gorgeous views to enjoy if you need to take a break. It took us about two hours to do, and that was with plenty of photos stops!
Trailhead: The trailhead is in Port Rexton. From Route 230, take Rocky Hill Road and travel for about 2km until you reach the parking lot area for the Skerwink trail, which is between Marshall’s Hill and the Anglican Church.
After hiking the Skerwink Trail, stop for a pint at Port Rexton Brewing. There’s also a delicious food truck here called ‘Oh My Cheeses’- enjoy those well-deserved carbs!
Gunhill Trail
1-2 KM | Easy to Moderate | 1-2 Hours
This is a fairly easy trail that starts from the town of Trinity near the rising tide theatre.
Shortly after starting the hike, there will be a detour you can take to a lookout point. It leads you down a nice rocky beach where you get great views of Trinity.
From there you’ll go back to the main trail, and then shortly after there’s a choice to follow the short route (Upper Gun hill, 1km), or the longer route (Lower Gun Hill, 2km).
The upper gun hill route takes you a magnificent view of Trinity bay, so that’s what I opted to do.
At the lookout, there’s some information about the natural and human history of Trinity which are both equally fascinating.
It’s one of the Discovery Geopark sites, due to the significance of Trinity harbor, which is the product of millions of years of geological processes.
There are also two restored cannons at the site, and you can compare the current town of Trinity with the 1910 photographs shown on the panels.
This is one of the shorter hikes on the discovery trail, so if you’re staying in Trinity it’s a great one to do at sunset. The light over the town at that time of day is breathtaking!
Trailhead: Starts from the gravel lot at the end of West Street in the town of Trinity.
Fox Island Trail, Discovery Trail NL
5.5 KM | Moderate | 2-3 hours
This trail starts in Champney’s West, taking you through beautiful coastal scenery as well as views of the local communities.
There are small sections through wooded areas, but for the most part, this trail follows along the coastline where you can see rocky beaches and seaside cliffs. Look out for local wildlife here, I saw many birds of prey flying over me!
Just past the 1km mark, you will see a shortcut that connects you to the community of Champney’s West, but the hike towards Fox island is worth the extra time. At around 2km, there’s a nice wooden bench and picnic area. This is also a great place to pick berries!
After leaving Fox Island, you will pass by a few farm plots before connecting to a road just past the 3km mark.
There is a detour here from the trail to Champney’s West Aquarium, where you can see tanks of local fish including salmon, cod, lumpfish, and flounder.
At the 3.5 km mark, the trail follows the road for one kilometer, then reconnects to the trail at around 4.5 kilometers, taking you back towards the start.
Trailhead: This trail starts in Champney’s West. Turn off Route 230 to route 230-17 and the parking lot is located on the right, about 2km from then turn off (across the road from the old cemetery).
Murphy’s Cove to Lodge’s Pond Trail
7.7 KM loop trail | Moderate | 3 hours
Like many of the trails on the Discovery Network, this trail starts off following a cart style path before veering off into a footpath towards Lodge’s pond.
At about 1 KM the trail opens up the coastline with several natural lookout points as it weaves in and out of the forest. You can also see “the squirter” here, where water is forced through a hole in the cliff and sea, spouting water in the air.
Near the 2KM mark, you can see another one of the discovery geopark sites, with large flat stones dotting the path across the beach
The rock formation here has been observed to contain abundant Ediacaran fossils, similar to what has been found in Mistaken Point on the Irish Loop. Newfoundland never ceases to amaze me!
At about 3.5 km, a lookout platform will give you a great view of Green Island and the lighthouse which was in operation back in 1857.
The trail continues through the forest and at about 5km you will enter the resettled community of Murphy’s Cove.
The settlement was abandoned in the 1960s because the neighboring communities of Port Union and Catalina had more to offer. There, you can and can read about the history of the community before taking the old cart path back to Port Union.
You can also visit the Port Union museum to learn about the history of this community which was once the largest exporter of dried cod on the east coast!
Trailhead: Turn off route 230 onto Reid Road in Port Union. The trail parking lot is a couple of hundred meters down the road on the right, next to the Gazebo.
King’s Point Lighthouse Trail
1.7 (inside loop) -3.5 KM (outside loop) | Easy to Moderate | 45 minutes -1.5 hours
This trail follows along the old cart path, which was used to access the lighthouse. Following the inside loop, it only takes about 15 minutes to walk to the lighthouse.
The lighthouse was built in 1893 after some 50 shipwrecks occurred in Bonavista Bay!
If you take the outer loop, you’ll get some great lookouts of the coast. It was very foggy the day I hiked this trail so I just stuck to the inside trail. It was a quick walk to the lighthouse, which you can get right next too.
Trailhead: From Route 235, turn onto Top Road in King’s Cove and then right onto Church Hill. The trailhead is located behind the Roman Catholic Church.
Klondike Trail Newfoundland
The Klondike Trail in Newfoundland is a 3km one-way trail that follows an old inland cart path that was used by residents of Elliston traveling to Bonavista.
If you’re starting in Elliston, be sure to check out some of the root cellars there first. It’s the root cellar capital of the world!
Starting from Elliston, the trail goes through a fir dominated forest, then passes through a few marshlands where you can see the provincial pitcher plant. At around 2km, the landscape changes into barrens.
This last section by Spillars Cove between the 2.5km and 3km steals the show, with sea stacks and puffins galore. Elliston actually has some of the best puffin watching from land in North America! It’s an amazing wildlife encounter.
Note that if you are short on time you can also access Spillars Cove from the Bonavista Side.
Trailhead: End of main street in Elliston.
Cape Shore Trail, Bonavista
3.5 KM | Easy to Moderate | 1.5 hours
The Cape Shore Trail follows the outline of the coast before ending near Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, passing through farmland with excellent viewing opportunities for whales, icebergs, and puffins.
I didn’t get a chance to do this whole trail, but I have spent a lot of time exploring Bonavista and all of it is beautiful, so I know this hike would be too.
I love the farmland in Bonavista, you can see horses and cows living very happy lives around the community.
The geology around the coast is gorgeous too. If you don’t have time to do this hike, still visit the lighthouse. It’s a gorgeous area and a great place to look for puffins nestled in the cliffs.
If you’re in Bonavista, be sure to check out Dungeon Provincial Park too. It’s a collapsed sea cave with a natural archway carved by the sea!
Bonavista also has a number of other attractions and historical sites to visit, including the Ryan Premises National Historic Site, a preserved example of a large-scale merchant operation in a Newfoundland outport.
Trailhead: Ocean side of Cape Shore Road on the way to the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse.
The best time to see icebergs is during the spring from May to June, although sometimes they can stay until July. Visit Iceberg Finder for the latest reports! Seeing an iceberg is an amazing experience that should be high on your Newfoundland bucket list!
The best time to see whales in Newfoundland is July and August, as this is when the Capelin start rolling onto shore which attracts migrating humpbacks. While you will likely spot whales from the discovery trail hikes, joining one of the whale watching boat tours from Trinity or Bonavista is the best way to experience these majestic giants.
July and August is the best time to hike the discovery trail as this is when you will get the nicest and most reliable weather, and it’s the best time to see whales. That said I hiked the discovery trail in October and the fall colors added a whole new element of beauty to it. Spring is also a good time because this is when you can see icebergs!
What To Bring Hiking On The Discovery Trail
All of Discovery Trail Newfoundland paths are half-day hikes, but it’s still important to be prepared and carry all the essentials with you. To help you pack, check out my day hiking hike which walks you through what you need to bring on any day hike.
I always recommend a good pair of boots when hiking in Newfoundland, as the landscape is rocky and often wet from rain. I’m been using this pair all summer and am obsessed with them.
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The Discovery Trail has quickly become one of my favorite hiking areas in Newfoundland!
If you find yourself visiting the Bonavista Peninsula, definitely take the time to try one of these gorgeous hikes. Let me know in the comments below which one you’d love to go on!
For more things to do in the area, check out this post!
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